Earth, Wood and Sun – Natural Building, Local Style (239)

“When we’re able to successfully work with local ecologies to meet our needs, we do the Earth a better service. And we are becoming empowered in our own lives.” Natural builder Chris Foraker gives a tour of work-in-progress at Aprovecho Center, Oregon. The structure’s clay, straw, sand, and wood come primarily from their own land. Much of the work was done by amateurs using techniques that don’t take industrial levels of technology. Aprovecho builders pioneered using small diameter flat-sided poles to replace dimensional lumber — a technique accepted into the local building code. Chris dreams of reintroducing “regional vernacular architectures.” This building beautifully expresses that dream. Episode 239. [aprovecho.net]